LARA DOWNES: Founder and President
Artist in Residence since 2004 at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis, Lara Downes serves as Statewide director of UC ArtsBridge, a university/K-12 arts education partnership. She is the founder and artistic director of the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition. The young mother of two small children, Lara is strongly committed to introducing classical music to students, presenting a full range of outreach activities ranging from advanced master classes to introductory K-12 programs in conjunction with her concert appearances. Lara works with Grammy in the Schools and VH-1's Save the Music Foundation, to whom she donates a portion of her CD sales and performance fees. www.laradownes.com
RISING STARS OF CALIFORNIA
Rising Stars of California is the first performance/education outreach program supported by the 88 KEYS Foundation, with the goal of permanently expanding the impact of the Foundation’s activities through live performances, innovative education/outreach offerings, and professionally led training/mentorship opportunities for gifted young musicians in the state.
FOUNDATION BOARD
Lara Downes: President
John Cron: Secretary
Mary Horton: Treasurer
Nancy Carr
Carolyn de la Pena